Local Nonprofit Offers Hope and Help for Rhode Island Families Facing ALS

​It has been just two months since the Rhode Island community lost Don Angelo, and the grief is still fresh for many who knew him. His story—one that moved from a personal essay about his diagnosis to an obituary just a month later—is a stark reminder of how quickly ALS can change a family's life. For Christina Vilardi, Executive Director of ALS Rhode Island, that swift and devastating progression is all too familiar.
"We have lost too many people to ALS this year and over the past few years," Vilardi said. Since joining the organization in 2023, she has witnessed firsthand the toll the disease takes—not just on patients, but on everyone who loves them.
ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurological disease that affects a person's ability to walk, talk, and eventually breathe. There is no cure, and treatment options remain limited. According to Vilardi, the disease currently affects approximately 100 Rhode Islanders at any given time, with a typical progression of two to five years after diagnosis. It doesn't discriminate by age, striking people as young as their 20s and as old as their 80s. While 90% of cases are sporadic, the remaining 10% are familial, pointing to a genetic component. Notably, veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS during their lifetime.
ALS Rhode Island is the only organization in the state providing direct care and clinical services to those affected by the disease. The organization operates the state's multidisciplinary ALS clinic and offers an extensive range of support services, including equipment loans (such as hospital beds, power wheelchairs, and speech-generating devices), transportation to medical appointments, and comprehensive care coordination.
"You can call us up at our Warwick office and we'll help with anything that you need," Vilardi explained. "Coordinating your care, working with your neurologist, any questions that you have throughout your ALS journey."
The organization also provides family support groups, respite care, and financial assistance for home modifications, like wheelchair ramps—resources families often don't realize they'll need until they're faced with a diagnosis.
"Families who reach out to us feel at least some sense of relief once they know that they're not alone in this journey," Vilardi said.
That sense of community extends beyond patients to their loved ones. ALS Rhode Island also offers direct support groups and ongoing resources for spouses who have lost partners to the disease.
Supporting this mission is a growing group of young professionals known as the Impact Council, chaired by Peter Ruzzo. Ruzzo met Vilardi about a year ago while looking for a meaningful way to volunteer his time.
"A coworker of mine lost her husband to ALS just a number of years ago, and I thought this was a great way for me to spend some time for a very worthy cause and a very terrible disease," Ruzzo said.
Under his leadership, the Impact Council has worked to bring fresh energy and visibility to the cause. Its flagship initiative has been partnering with local 5K and 10K races, half marathons, and marathons to bring the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge directly to runners crossing the finish line—a natural pairing that helped the group raise a significant amount of money this past summer.
"You just ran a 5K. You're hot and sweaty. You want a bucket of ice," Ruzzo said, explaining the appeal.
This fall, the Impact Council is shifting its focus toward hands-on volunteer work through a new initiative called Care Connections, which pairs volunteers directly with families affected by ALS. The support is often simple but meaningful: yard work, grocery runs, or just spending time with someone in need of company. The group also plans to hand-deliver pies around Thanksgiving and help families with Christmas decorations during the holiday season.
"As a volunteer and not an employee of the company, I said, how can I actually help these people?" Ruzzo said. "It's as simple as doing yard work around the house, helping them with groceries, and even just spending time with the affected members of the community."
The Impact Council has grown significantly over the past year, but Ruzzo emphasized that more volunteers—particularly young professionals—are always needed, especially for the Care Connections program.
Right now, ALS Rhode Island is supporting roughly 80 to 100 people across all of its programs, with about 50 patients currently receiving care through its multidisciplinary clinic. Those numbers fluctuate, but the need for support remains constant.
For those looking to get involved, whether through volunteering, fundraising, or simply learning more about the services available, ALS Rhode Island encourages the community to visit alsunitedri.org or call their Warwick office at (401) 732-1609.
"It's important that you all know that these services are out there," Vilardi said. And for families navigating an ALS diagnosis, that knowledge—and the support behind it—can make all the difference.